Ruling pen



J. T. BRUBAKER RULING PEN Aug'. 5, 1947.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 10, 1945 y...III .r1.2 .L

w x Am. 4.

l. di

I l i gwvwwto'a,

Patented Aug. 5, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RULING PEN John'T. Brubaker, Luray, Va'.

Application February 10, 1945,r Serial No. 577,185 17 claims. (o1. 12o- 48)- This invention relates to a pen, and it aims to provide a construction manually operable to measure and trap predetermined quantities of ink carried thereby and force same through a self-closing slit for outlet onto the point, especially adapting the pen for use as a ruling or drafting pen, although no limitation to suchfuse is to be implied. l Y

I also aim to provide a novel means which may consist of a rubber body or otherwise provided with a trapping chamber and a self-sealing slit o-r opening, and which may also be provided by equivalent means taking various forms. v

In addition, an object is to provide a construction having a guide tube for discharged ink provided with means associated therewith to clear and prevent clogging of the same.

Another aim is to provide various forms of means whereby the ink trapping and discharge means also function as or part of means operable as a pump to fill the ink reservoir of the pen.

A further object is to provide means which forms the trap in coaction with a plunger or piston, and is bodily movable as a piston or plunger of a pump to fill the ink reservoir of the pen.

A still further object is to provide a construction having a jointly movable tube and plunger co-acting with a slit, self-closing, resilient web to trap and discharge a measured or predetermined quantity of ink, and which parts are separable and relatively movable as a pump to reill the reservoir.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating operative embodiments by Way of example. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through one form of pen constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. la is a plan view of member I2.

Fig. 2 is a crosssectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional View, partly fragmentary, taken through a second form of pen;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of'Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary' longitudinal sectional View taken through another modiiied form of D611;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig; 7 isy across-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of Fig, 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section taken through a further modified form of pen;

Fig. 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly in central longitudinal'section taken through a fth form of pen;

Fig. 1l is a cross-section taken on the line IIY-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view primarily in central longitudinal section through a sixth form of pen; and

Fig; 13` is a fragmentary side elevation of the intermediate portion of that form of the pen shown in Fig. 10, taken at a right-angle to the latter figure.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the different views, and first to the form of Figs, 1 and 2': Il, designates a barrel chamber made of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material, which is open at its upper end` and has a wall II at its lower end. The interior of barrel I0 constitutes an ink reservoir, and disposed in the lower portion of such Ibarrel-or reservoir and resting on Wall I I isa gen- F erally cylindrical elastic trap body I2. This body maybe made of rubber or `any equivalent. Body I2 hascentral annular recesses extending inwardly fromopposite ends at I 3 and I4, separated by a'web I-5 integral with the body. This web has a slit I6 Which is normally .closed and so urged through inherent resilience of the material of the body.

Recess I4 constitutes a trap or trap chamber into which ink may flow from the reservoir or interior of the barrel.

The trapped ink in chamber I4 is adapted to beV discharged through the reciprocation of a plunger or piston I'I carried by an operating rod I8. Rod I8 at its upper end is suitably anchored at the crown of an elastic bulb I9, as at |96'. Bulb I9 has a depending plug portion 20 adapted to removably and frictionally fit into and close theA upper end of barrel I0, the plug also havingav central bore 2I slidably equipped by the rodl;

Normally thevplunger I'I extends part-way into the trapping chamber I4, and ink'ows into the latter andV past the plunger through avent groove orthe like at 22. This groovel extends to part Way of the trappingfchamber from the top, and the rod I8 is adapted to be depressed to move 3 the plunger below the vent 22, whereby a quantity of the ink is measured, trapped, and will be discharged through the further depression of the plunger since the action will cause the slit I5 to open and the ink from the trap chamber I4 to pass into the recess I3.

Ink from chamber I3 iiows into the upper section 23 of a guide tube, and thence through a lower section 24 of such tube having a suitably sized discharge opening 25. Said guide tube sections 23 and 24 may form part of an angle point carrying body 26, having a c ap portion 21 screwthreaded at 28 adjustably to th'e lower end of the barrel I9.. It will be noted that the guide tube section 23 is slidable through a central opening in the wall I I.

A pen point 23 of any suitable construction may be attached to the carrier '26. Such point, for instance, may have an attaching head 3I screwthreaded at 32 to the exterior of guide tube section 24. Said head 3l carries integral, suitably resilient, co-acting blades 33, which vform said pen point 29.

It will be noted that a tine 34 is integral with the rod I8 and plunger I1, depending from th'e latter through the web I5 and into the guide sections 23 and 24, normally having its point located slightly above the outlet of the section 25. The tine 34 is of less diameter than the bore of the guide tube sections 22 and 23.

As a result of the construction described, with a supply of ink within the reservoir I0, rod I9 may be depressed so as to move plunger I1 downwardly, resulting in the trapping of a measured, predetermined quantity of ink in the chamber I4, and through the continued movement of the plunger such trapped ink and the pressure thereon will force the web I5 to separate on opposite sides of the slit I3, thus dilating or opening the latter. While the tine 34 extends through the slit, th'e latter, nevertheless, adapts itself to the shape of the tine and closely closes and seals the slit around the same. Ink which is received in the recess I3 follows the tine 34 and ows downwardly through the bore of the guide sections 23 and 24, dropping from the lower end of the latter between the blades 33 at the point of the pen. It will thus be realized that the amount of ink supplied to a pen point of this character may be regulated and will always be measured and predetermined, so that an over-supply cannot reach the point, and the quantity dispensed normally will be that of a drop or so, such as is supplied to the point usually by means of a quill,tooth pick or the like.

Attention is called to the fact that the depression of the rod I8 also moves the tine 34 downwardly so that it passes through the discharge end of the bore of feed section 24, th'us clearing it and preventing the retention and hardening of ink therein, which would likely clog the same. rIhis tine also functions to dislodge any ink which may cling to the lower end of the guide tube section 25.

Said plunger I1 also is operable to rell the barrel or reservoir I0. Prior to the refilling operation, point carrier 26 is turned-so that the tube section 23 will be moved upwardly against the web I5 through the action of th'e screw-threads 21 in order to stretch or distort the web to open the slit I6 and maintain it open. Thereafter, the lower end of the pen is placed in an ink-bottle or other supply of ink, and the bulb is pressed so as to reciprocate the plunger l1 in order to pump ink through the slit I6 into the reservoir or barrel, following which the carrier 26 is turned so that the action of the threads 21 will lower it and close the slit I6, so that thereafter the pen may be operated to trap and discharge the ink onto the point as desired.

Referring to the modied form shown in Fig. 3, a barrel is provided at Illa, being made of materials like barrel I0, that is of metal, plastic, or the like. Barrel IIJEL has a lower conical tapered wall 35 integral therewith, with which a central tube 36 is also integral, extending partly into and partly out of the barrel or reservoir Illa.

Normally held frictionally against movement within the bore of tube 36 and resting on a shoulder 31 therein is an ink trapping body 38 which may be made of elastic rubber, and which is generally of the same construction as the body I2. Such body 38 has an integral web 39 intermediate its ends which has a normally closed, selfclosing slit at 40, in a Web 4I)a similar to the slit I6. Body 38 may be made of elastic rubber or the equivalent like body I2.

Coacting with body 38 is a plunger 4I adapted to be moved into a trapping chamber 42 which functions similarly to the chamber I4, and which, if desired, may have a vent groove such as 22. Plunger 4I forms part of a reciprocable operating rod 43, functioning like that at I8, and which has an enlargement 44 to guide it in its operation. Tube36 within the reservoir Il]EL has various openingsat 45 to enable ink to flow into and out of the trapping chamber and to permit relling.

The said body 38 below the web 4I)a has a recess 46 which is normally closed by a disk 41 of less diameter than that of the bore of tube 36, below the wall 35, and which is carried by a tine 48 extending from plunger 4I through the trap chamber, the slit 40, and below the disk 41 into an ink guide tube 49 -detachably screw-threaded as at 59 to the lower end of the tube 36. This guide tube 49 is shaped like the guide tube section 24, and the tine 48 at its lower end is normally disposed above the outlet of said tube 49 so that the latter may function like that at 24. A point 5I similar to that used at 29, or otherwise, is preferably detachably screw-threaded at 52 to the lower portion of the guide tube 49.

Removably disposed in the upper end of tube I0EL is a rubber or other elastic plug or closure 53, resting on an inwardly extending ange 54 of such barrel. Rod 43 may slide through the closure 53, or the latter may yield to accommodate reciprocations of the rod since the movement required in practice is quite slight. However, a tube 55 depends integrally from the closure 53 and has an opening at its lower end closely engaging the rod 43 so as to prevent the escape of ink from the reservoir upwardly along the rod, it being clear that the tube 55 is elastic like the closure 53. Closure 53 will remain in place friction-tight and in addition is preferably clamped in place at a flange 56 Which overlaps the upper edge of a reduced neck l51 at the upper end of barrel Illa.

This form of pen may advantageously be employed in connected pluralities, with the points 5I of the different pens of different sizes so as to produce lines of different widths, or the points of the different pens so coupled may be of different construction as preferred. The two pens forming the unit of Fig. 3 may be connected together by a coupling 58, generally of tubular form, having inwardly extending flanges 59 bearing on the flanges 56, and which couplings may be held in place by frictional engagement with the seeks 51 and the flanges es, er otherwise es preferred. The operating rods 43 may :be .manipulatedL or recip'rocated by any -desired means, such as cranks 3D extending therefrom through suitably enlarged openings 6| in the coupling 58 to the exterior thereof.

In operating the :pen of the construction `of Figs. 3 and 4, with the parts disposed as in Fig. 3, ink will flow from the reservoir or barrel IIIL to the lowermost opening 45 to fill chamber 42. Depression of rod 43 at crank 60 thereafter will trap the ink in the chamber 42 similarly to the trapping of the ink in chamber I4 of the rst form. Continued lowering movement of plunger 4I expels the trapped ink from chamber 42 by dilating or opening the slit 40 in web 43a, the

- downward movement of rod 43 moving the disk 4l away from the chamber 43 so that the ink flows past the disk, through the guide member 43, and from the latter to the pen point. It will be clear that operation of the rod 43 will cause tine 48 to move into and out of the outlet of tube 49, clearing the same and removing any ink, preventing clogging of tube 49, and the adherence of ink thereto.

As the movement of rod 43 to trap and dispense the ink is so slight, a mere touching of the crank 33 is surcient to effect this end. However, the crank 63 is adapted to be positively reciprocated to a greater extent in order to pump ink from a bottle or other supply into which the pen is placed at the lower end, into the reservoir |63. During the pumping action through the longitudinal reciprocation of rod 43, disk 4l through its abutment with body 38 will raise that body so that it will function to draw in or suck in ink which enters the reservoir below the body 38-through the adjacent hole or holes 45. Movement of the rod 43 toward the point '5I during lsuch reciprocation through the action of plunger 4I lowers or restores body 38 against seat 3l where it is held through frictional engagement of its periphery with the bore of tube 38. The construction thus is operable in the position of Fig. 3 to discharge trapped predetermined quantities of ink on to the point 15|, and is also capable, through the greater reciprooation of rod 43, to operate the structure as a pump since the body 38 will slide Within the bar or tube 36 to a location above the lowermost opening 45 of the tube.

It will be realized that since the wall of tube 55 is relatively thin, it has an elastic gripping action on the rod 43 so as to prevent seepage of ink out of the barrel Iiia along rod 43, and that such tube 55 may be so tensioned as normally to maintain the rod 43 in, and urge it to, the normal position shown in Fig. 3. On the other hand, if desired, a coil spring or the equivalent may surround rod 43, bearing at one end against the crank 55 and at the other end against yclosure 53 to maintain the parts in such normal position of Fig. 3.

Considering now the modified form of Figs. 5 to 7, .which form in the main conforms to that of Fig. 3 and has the same general action, the barrels are designated Ib and are connected by a coupling 581 like that at 58, securing flexible rubber closures 531 in place in a manner similar to the structure of Fig. 3. This modiiied form has a tube integral with it at 361 extending partly interiorly of the barrel and partly exteriorly thereof, terminating at its lower end in a reduced conduit 491 having screw-threads at 52b detach- 1 or otherwise. -As shown, said point 5I1, in Fig.

" '5, has resilient blades 33h tensionesI to provide Y aspa'ce between them of minimum vwidth which may be regulated to greater iineness through the sliding action of a ring 62 surrounding and conned by cam surface 63 on the blades.

Within the tube 361, an elastic rubber body 381 is reciprocable but normally adapted to remain friotionally in the position shown in Fig. 5. This body 381 contains a trap chamber I4b which functions identically like those at I4 and 42 in the previous forms, having a closing Web I 51 funcl tioning like those at I5 and 40a, and having a slit I5c normally closed as in the preceding forms about a tine 321 which extends below the same and partly fills the bore of the conduit or tube 491, having a restricted outlet 251 like the outlet 25, and which is adapted to be cleaned through reciprocation of tine 321, which reciprocation will also prevent clogging, and will dislodge adhering ink. The ink from the reservoir or barrel enters tube 361 through holes 451 and from the tube enters the trap chamber |41 through an `opening 64 in an inverted bell-shaped body 65 which may be of metal, hard rubber, plastic or the like, located within the body 331 and which reinforces the latter. Located within the bell 65 is a plunger I11, coacting with the trap chamber I 41 in the same lmanner that plunger I'I co-acts with trap chamber I4. The Wall of trap chamber I4, if desired, may contain a vent similar to that at 22, Tine 321 extends integrally from one end of plunger |11 and at the other end `of the plunger the latter extends integrally from an operating rod |81 which passes sldably through the yclosure |51. Plunger |11 has a disk 66 at the upper end which is adapted to abut the overhanging `portion of the bell 65, and within the tube 361 above the body 381 is a plunger disk 6l integral with rod |81.

Leakage along rod |81 through closure 531 is prevented by an elastic tube 551 which may functionlike that at 55, in this instance being shown as initially separate from the closure 53 and permanently or removably attached to an extension 68 of the latter. Rod |31 is normally held in a position wherein the web |51 is closed at its slit, plunger |11 is elevated with respect to the trap chamber |41?, and ink is free to flow from the barrel or reservoir through openings 64 into the trap chamber. The parts are normally maintained in this position and urged to that position through the action of a coil-spring 68, surrounding rod |81 and to the closure 531 at one end and an abutment B9 at the other end on the rod |81 relatively close to an operating crank 601 extending through the opening SI1 in the coupling 58, and operating as in the form of Figs. 3 and 4. In the operation of this modified form of Figs. 5 to '7, depression of rod |81 moves plunger I'I1 intothe 'trap chamber |41 thereby trapping a predetermined measured quantity of ink and through the same movement expelling the same yby dilation or opening of the slit at web I51, which ink flows down the tine 321 through the tube 491 and leaves at outlet 251 and ilows between the blades 331 of the pen point. In reiilling this pen, the lower end is disposed in ink within a bottle or other source, and crank 63 is reciprocated so as to bodily move body 381 and its bell 351 as a plunger, similarly to the operation of the body 38 of the previous form. Disk 61 has a relatively loose t and functions as a guide for'the rod 'I81and the body 381.

In the modie'dform 'shown in Fig. 9, the barrelis designated ||ld and Yhas a pen` point 31d generally similar to that employed at 3|, but being interiorly screw-threaded detachably to the barrel at 28d rather than exteriorly thereof as in Fig. 1. This point 3|d has a plug 69 provided with a central bore 19 and a depending tube for the ink 1| having a restricted outlet 12.. Operating in the bore is a tine 13 which co-acts therewith in the Same manner as tine 32 of the form of Fig. 1. At the upper end tine 13 carries a valve 14 which may be of rubber or have a rubber coating, and which coacts with a seat 15 provided on a resilient rubber trap body 16 having a trap chamber 11 therein, functioning like the trap chamber I4 in the rst form, and in connection with a plunger Il'd carried by lan operating rod |8d. Rubber body 16 is adapted to remain frictionally in the position shown, and it may rest on a shelf or partition 18 of hard rubber, metal, plastic, or any other suitable material affixed to the inner surface of barrel I0d and having a central opening through which an extension 19 of body 'I6 extends, and which has the valve-seat 15 at its lower end. An expansive coil spring 80 surrounds the tine 10 and at one end bears against the valve 14, and at its other end against the plug 69 to urge Valve 14 to its seat and normally maintain it seated.

In the operation of this form of Fig, 9, the ink will flow from the barrel into trap chamber 11, and upon depression of rod I8a the ink trapped in chamber 11 will force valve 14 from the seat 15, and will then flow through the bore 10 between the blades of the pen point 3|d, the sliding movement of the valve 14 also moving the tine 13 so as to clear the bore 10 and its outlet 12, preventing the clogging of ink and removing any adhering ink. It is to be noted that the rod I8@ is adapted to be mounted and operated similarly to the rod I8 as in the rst form or in any other approved way.

In the form of Fig. 10, I may use pens of different construction, especially with respect to their points or use points adapted to provide lines of different thicknesses. These pens generally may be of the forms of Fig. 3 or 5. They have barrels such as I0e and |I|f provided with detachable telescopic extensions as at 8| and 82, respectively, the extensions having registering openings at 83 to enable assembly of the parts and actuation of the operating cranks 84 of such pens. Barrel Ille has a point at 85, which, it will be noted is different from the type of point employed for the other one as at 8B, and which latter is generally of the spring blade type employed in the form of Fig. 1. A guide tube 81 for the ink is shown in connection with point 85, and either one or both of such points 86 has a notch 88 across which a quill or other ink applying element may be drawn so as to wipe ink from such quill or the like and thereby ll the point, especially if the pen otherwise does not operate. In fact, such notch or notches 88 may be used in connection with pen points generally and especially in connection with any of the other forms of pen points disclosed in this application.

The quantity of ink discharged from the various types of pens disclosed may be controlled or regulated as detailed in Fig. 13, which latter view is a fragmentary elevation of the intermediate portion of Fig, 10 taken at a right-angle to the latter gure. Normally the crank 84 rests on a shoulder a in adjacent opening 83. Such crank may be freely turned to the left and then depressed to the extent limited by shoulder b` or 8 ixfurther turned to the left and depressed to the extent 'limited by the shoulder c respectively dispensing different quantities of ink.

A flnal'v form is shown in Fig. 12, where the barrel II|g -is closed at its upper open end by a screw-cap 88 having a gasket 89 interposed be- Atweenthe same and adjacent the end of the barrel. :At the other end, barrel |0I=7 is tapered at 90 .to a point closed with the exception of an ink feed opening orifice 9|. Within the tapered portion 90, frictionally or otherwise held in place, is an elastic rubber body 92 having a. central discharge opening 93 leading from a relatively large Vrecess 94 at the top thereof. Recess 94 is closed by .a :web 95 which may be integral marginally with the body 92 or secured or otherwise fastened to it. Web or disk 95 has a normally closed diametrical slit 9g therein adapted to function similarly to the slit in the web I5 of the first form, for instance.

Within the barrel Il!g is a tube 91, which is slidable through the gap 88 and gasket 89, but normally positioned with its lower edge, which is preferably chamfered as shown, in sealed contact with the upper surface of web 95, and which tube is provided with various holes or apertures 9B so that ink may flow from the interior of the barrel into the bore of the tube 91. Within the bore of the tube 91 is a, head or plunger 99 which is normally positioned as shown in Fig. 12, so that ink may ow into the bore of tube 91 below it, and a trap chamber thus be formed to function like the trap chamber I4. A coil spring |00 normally urges the tube 91 to the position vshown in Fig. 12, the spring surrounding the tube and at opposite ends engaging abutments |0I and |02 carried by the tube 91 and barrel |0g respectively.

`At the upper end, tube 91 exteriorly of the barrel I0g has a suitable handle |03. A head or plunger 99 is carried lby a rod |04 which is provided with an enlargement |05 equipped with an operating batten |08. Enlargement |05 may be detachably screw-threaded at |01 to the interior of tube 91.

In the operation of the form of Fig. 12, with ink in the bore of the tube beneath the plunger 'or head 99, the operator will depress tube 91 and plunger 99 as a unit. Plunger 99 forces the ink downwardly and causes dilation of opening 9B, while the depression of tube 91 maintains the annular chamber around the ink. The relatively large recess 94 accommodates the depression and flexing of the web 95. After such feed of a predetermined measured quantity of ink, spring |00, which has been tensloned by the depression of the tube 91, will restore it to normal position and permit the web through its inherent elasticity to assume the position of Fig. 12 with slit 96 closed.-

In lling the pen of Fig. 12, enlargement |05 is detached at the screw-threads |01 so that tube 91 and rod |04 may be independently operated. Innthis condition, the lower end of the pen is placed in ink within a bottle or other supply, andl one nger used to depress barrel 91 which opens slit 96 and holds it open. Thereupon knob |06 is used to reciprocate the plunger 99 and cause pumping and intake of ink through the orice 9|, opening 93, recess 94, slit 96, the bore of tube 9'1, and openings 98.

The vquantity of ink dispensed or discharged may be regulated n or varied. To this end as shown in-Fig. 18, the barrel or section I0e may have the opening 83 provided with three or more 9 steps a, b and c. Crank 84 is rotatable and when depressed, its movement will be limited by the step in line with it. This feature may be employed in the forms of Figs. 4 and 5 where the openings 6| and E Ib may correspond to the shape of the o-pening 83 in Fig. 13.

Various changes may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber, a normally closed outlet from said chamber, and a plunger co-acting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said outlet to open to discharge the ink.

2. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber having an elastic web provided with a normally closed slit forming the outlet from said chamber, and a plunger co-acting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink against said web to open the slit to discharge the ink.

3. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including an elastic body having a trap chamber and a web provided Iwith a slit normally closed through inherent resilience of the body; rand forming the outlet from said chamber, and a plunger coacting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink against said web to open the slit to discharge the ink.

4. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber, a normally closed outlet from said chamber, a plunger coacting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said outlet to open to discharge the ink, a feed tube, means between the trap chamber and point, and a tine carried by the plunger and'operable in said tube.

5. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber, a normally closed outlet from said chamber, a plunger coacting With the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said outlet to open to discharge the ink, a feed tube, means between the trap chamber and point, a tine carried by the plunger and operable in said tube, a p-neumatic bulb, and a rod extending from and operable by the bulb carrying said plunger.

6, A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber having an elastic web provided with a normally closed slit forming the outlet from said chamber, a plunger coacting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said outlet to open to discharge the ink, and a point carrying part on and movable along said barrel having a part operable against the web so as to maintain it open to permit operation of the device as a pump in refilling.

7. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber, a valve chamber.

including a body provided-with a trap chamber,`

a normally closed outlet from said chamber, and

"` including a trap chamber, a normally closed outa plunger coacting withthe chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trappedink lso that 'the latter will cause said outlet. to open to vdischarge Ithe ink, and means movable with the-r plunger to displace the body so that it will function as a piston in filling the reservoir through the point. f p l 9. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point, and

means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point let from said chamber,- and a plunger coacting with the chamber to trap ink therein 'and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said outlet to open to discharge the,ink, "and ink guide means between the trapv chamber andthepoint.V l 10. A pen having an ink reservoir, a point,

and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber having an elastic web provided with a normally closed slit forming the outlet from saidvchamber, a plunger .coacting with the chamber yto trap` ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said outlet to open to discharge the ink,

" a point carrying part adjustably mountedonfsaid barrel having a tube extending partly into and out of the barrel to guide ink to the point, that part of the tube within the barrel being operable against the Web to open the slit to enable operation of the plunger to pump inl: into the reservoir.

1l. A pen having a barrel providing a,l reservoir,

a point carried by the barrel, and means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point including a trap chamber, a normal-ly closed outlet from said chamber, a plunger coacting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the means normally urging said valve member into f closing relation to said chamber, and a plunger coasting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said outlet to open, a closure for the upper portion of the barrel, operating means for the plunger eX- tending through the closure, and an` elastic tube on the `closure in wiping relation to the lastmentioned means to prevent passage of ink along the latter.

12. A structure of the class described comprising a first pen and seco-nd pen, said pens having barrels providing reservoirs, closures for said reservoirs, ink trapping `and feeding means having operating rods extending therefrom, a coupling securing said barrels together and mounting said closures in place having openings through which the rods extend whereby they secondly function to couple the pens.

13. A pen having a barrel providing a reservoir,

a point, means to feed ink from the "reservoir to the point comprising a tube, an elastic body in said tube having a trap chamber provided with a slit normally closed through its inherent resilience, a bell member within the body reinforcing the same having an opening communicating with the reservoir, a-plunger Within the bell member, coacting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said slit to open for the outlet of the ink, said bell overlappingthe plunger, whereby the plunger is operable in one direction to bodily move the elastic body to cause it to function as a piston in relling the reservoir through the point.

14. A pen having a barrel providing a reservoir, a point, means to feed ink from the reservoir to the point comprising a tube, an elastic body in said tube having a trap chamber provided with a slit normally closed through its inherent resilience, a bell member within the body reinforcing the same having an opening communicating with the reservoir, a plunger within the bell member, coacting with the chamber to trap ink therein and thereupon move the trapped ink so that the latter will cause said slit to open for the outlet of the ink, said bell overlapping the plunger, whereby the plunger is operable in one direction to bodily move the elastic body to cause it to function as a piston in relling the reservoir through the point, a closure for the barrel, an,

operating rod extending from the plunger and to the closure, an elastic tube depending from the closure surrounding the rod and in wiping engagement therewith to prevent seepage of ink along the rod. v

15. A pen having a barrel provided with a reservoir, a body in said barrel having an elastic web provided with a slit which is self-closing through inherent resilience, and means to trap ink and move the trapped ink against the web to force the slit open and discharge therethrough. 16. A pen having a barrel provided with a reservoir, a body in said barrel having an elastic web provided with an outlet slit normally closed through its inherent resilience, a slidable tube -gaged with said pen, said pen and instrument having registering openings through the interengagedparts, and said operating rod extending through said openings to the exterior to secondly function to couple the pen and instrument.

JOHN T. BRUBAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the [ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 889,435 Bustanoby June 2, 1908 1,810,788 Ramos June 1G, 1931 460,393 Ker Sept. 29, 1891 557,149 Renz Mar. 31, 1896 1,355,961 Gran Oct. 19, 1920 

